Posted: Saturday, 18th November, 2006 : 3:54 PM - - 6,400 Reads

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Surviving to ride the penultimate day of this gruelling test of man and machine was one thing, but reaching the end of day five in one piece was quite another.

Rain began to fall steadily from mid morning but, by early afternoon, it was coming down in torrents. Some of the tracks ridden on days one, two and three soon became narrow, rutted, slippery one-lined affairs and bottlenecks began to develop as the cream of riders from 31 nations attempted to cut a path through the Kinleith Forest.

With prolonged delays causing timing and scoring problems, the organisers decided to cut short the day’s racing and bring the riders back to the pit compound (parc ferme) early.

ISDE organisers are counting the first two tests held earlier in the day

Trophy Team standings after day four of the ISDE:
1. Finland;
2. France, 9m8s behind the leaders;
3. Spain, 14m11s;
4. Italy, 18m14s;
5. Australia, 18m31s;
6. Sweden, 19m43s;
7. New Zealand, 30m20s;
8. Slovakia, 48m17s;
9. Great Britain, 48m18s;
10. USA, 53m46s.

Junior Trophy Team positions (under 23 years):
1. USA;
2. France, 4m31s behind the leaders;
3. Australia, 6m27s;
4.Italy, 8m43s;
5. Germany, 8m46s;
6. Finland, 9m44s;
7. Great Britain, 10m40s;
8. Netherlands, 15m12s;
9. Spain, 19m48s;
10. New Zealand, 26m01s.

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